Funky Justin Timberlake

Truly funky artists sometimes appear where we least expect them. That was certainly the case as Justin Timberlake emerged from The Mickey Mouse Club to be the brightest light of pop phenoms 'N Sync.

Since the band dissolved in 2002, he's enjoyed a robust career as a solo artist and an actor. Of course, there's a reason for Timberlake's inherent funkiness: He grew up in Memphis, a town with more soul than most would know what to do with. And Timberlake wears his funk well. So well, in fact, that other artists recruit him to up their own funk quotient. Madonna, Timbaland, Nelly, Missy Elliott, Jamie Foxx, Ciara, 50 Cent, Snoop Dogg, Talib Kweli, Sheryl Crow, and others have all collaborated with him.

he Black Eyed Peas have even worked with him and they are pretty funky in their own right. Of course, Timberlake's teaming with Janet Jackson for the 2004 Superbowl Half-Time show may be his ultimate act of inadvertent funkification. Despite appearing on lots of other artists' tracks, Justin hasn't released his own project since 2006's FutureSex/LoveSounds, much to the chagrin of many of his fans. Some are so distraught, they've made a video plea to convince him to make another record.

Sure, Timberlake adds a certain funkiness wherever he goes – even as an actor. The Social Network and Alpha Dog, for example, would not have been the same without his charismatic presence. Still, where he really comes alive is on the stage. There, he can let his funk flag fly and we're all the better for it.

Copyright 2011 mind-funk-music.com